This historic warehouse conversion is located at a former public execution site for pirates

During the 18th century, East London’s Wapping was a bustling dock with a reputation for criminal gangs. Today, it is a quiet, genteel neighborhood favored by well-heeled creative types. Yet a sense of its edgier past still lingers.

This historic penthouse, located on Wapping High Street by the River Thames, is in a 19th-century warehouse that was built on a public execution site for pirates, mutineers and smugglers. The nearby Captain Kidd pub is named after the notorious pirate who was hanged here.

Fortunately, the gallowswere removed long ago. But the building’s name, Execution Dock House, is a vivid reminder of its grisly past.

Converted in the 1990s, this two-story property has been designed to make the most of the lateral space. The top floor is mostly open plan—you can see from one end of the apartment to the other—and is dominated by a vast living space with 25-foot ceilings.

This double-height kitchen/reception room has a classic period loft look, with exposed wooden ceiling beams and trusses, and metal work, bare brick walls and arched, multi-paned windows with views of the River Thames.

Though the property has plenty of rustic charm, the décor, kitchen, bathrooms and wooden flooring are modern. “It is one of the best warehouse apartments in the neighborhood in terms of authenticity of space,” said listing agent Matthew Stanway of Cluttons.

The Stats

The 2,704-square-foot Victorian-era apartment has a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a second bedroom, second bathroom, and a fully fitted kitchen located off the side of the reception room, as well as a small balcony overlooking the river.

The upper floor contains the living and sleeping areas and the floor below has a hallway with a staircase, which opens onto the living space above.

The master bedroom has an area which could be partitioned off to create an additional bedroom, according to Mr. Stanway. “There is also potential for a roof terrace to be added, subject to planning consents,” he added.

Amenities

The property has an elevator, which opens onto the hallway on the top floor.

Neighborhood Notes

An atmospheric neighborhood with a rich maritime heritage and historic warehouses and wharves, Wapping is on the north bank of the Thames in East London. Located a mile from the City of London, it has old riverside pubs, food stores, restaurants and an Overground railway station.